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Dozens of cats are on their way from Houston to Colorado Springs, part of an effort to make room in Texas shelters for animals displaced by Hurricane Harvey.

The cats, which were in Houston-area shelters when the hurricane hit, were moved to Austin so that more lost or abandoned animals could be taken in. Two staff members with Wild Blue Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, a Colorado Springs-area nonprofit, picked them up on Friday.

Courtesy of Wild Blue Animal Rescue and Sanctuary.

"It's all about our team - they want to help as many cats as possible," said Allison DuVal, the local nonprofit's operations director. "When a natural disaster happens and cats are in need, we're willing to step up and help our neighbors."

The staff members were expected to take 40 to 50 cats and kittens back in their van.

"The number's looking closer to 50 at this point," DuVal said Friday. "The need is huge."

Some will stay at the animal rescue, which is in the Black Forest area, but most will go home with foster families.

A few of the cats have ringworm or other medical conditions, but that didn't deter the staff members from taking them in, DuVal said. It just means they won't be adoptable quite yet.

"It takes anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks to get them treated (for ringworm), and then they can find them loving homes as well," DuVal said.

Donations are needed to help the organization take care of the new cats, DuVal said.

Staff members from Wild Blue Animal Rescue and Sanctuary left for Houston on Thursday, and were expected to return with 40 to 50 cats and kittens. (Photo via Facebook)